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Patterns in Japan’s vernacular architecture: envelope layers and ecosystem

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PATTERNS and
LAYERING
Japanese
Spatial Culture
Nature
and Arch itectu re

Foreword:
Kengo KUMA

Editors:
Salvator-John A. LIOTTA
Matteo BELFIORE

Book Design:
Ilze PAKLONE
Rafael A. BALBOA
Foreword 4
KengoKuma

Background
Salvator JohnA. Liotta and Matteo Belfiore

Patterns, Japanese Spatial Culture, Nature and Generative Design

Salvator-JohnA. Liotta

Spatial Layering in Japan 52

Matteo Belfiore

Thinking

Japanese Pattern Eccentricities 98

Ra fael Balboa and IlzePa klone

Evolution of Geometrical Pattern 106

Li ngZhan g

Development of Japanese Traditional Pattern under the Influence of Chinese Culture 112
Yao Chen

Patterns in Japanese Vernacular Architecture : Envelope Layers and Ecosystem Integration 11 8

CatarinaVitorino

Distant Distances 126

Bojan Milan Kon carevic

European and Japanese space : ADifferent Perception Through Artists' Eyes 134
Fede ricoSca roni

Pervious and Phenomenal Opacity : Boundary Techniques and Intermediating Patterns as Design Strategies 140
Robert Baum
Integrated Interspaces: An Urban Interpretation of the Concept of Oku 146
Cristiano Lippa

Craft Mediated Designs: Explorations in Modernity and Bamboo 152

Kaon Ko

Doing

Patterns as Initiators of Design : Projects of Kengo Kuma Laboratory 160

Ko Nakamura and Mikako Koike

On Pattern and Digital Fabrication 170

Yusuke Obuc hi

Catarina Vitorino
Curren t overexp loi tation of earth's regenera tive capacity! calls for a progressive shift of contemporary archi tectural
design practice, and of environmental benchmar ks to evolve from neu tral to regenerative (Reed 2007) St rateg ies fo r
the Integ ration with lo ca l ecosystems, which is referred as one of the fundamenta l basis of future green arc hitecture
(Gross kopf, Kibert 2006; Guy, Kibe rt, Sendzimir 2002)' are therefo re in corporated in the concept of regenerative
arch itecture, cont ributing for the renewa l of environmental and bu ilt systems, emissions' absorpt ion , and resto ration
of resources and eco logical functions.
The adaptation of vernacular architectu re to local climate and micro-site conditions is ac knowledged by diverse
authors, either high lighting Its low envi ronmenta l im pacts, through a susta lnability assessment perspective 2
(Murakami, Ikaga 2008) (Sa komoto 2005)' or either focus ing in ItS co-evolutiona ry design properties (Fraze r: 1995)'
through a explorative architectural design research perspective. Remarkab ly, John Frazer observes the attribute of
vernacular architecture to share intrinsic evo lutionary and symb iotic properties of nature itse lf, as the capacity to
achieve 'a rich biodiversity of interdependent spec ies of plants and animals that are in metabolic balance with their
environment", through "means of profligate prototyping and the ru thless rejection of flawed experiments" (Frazer
199512)
In Japanese architectu re tradition, the con cept of mu ltilaye red building envelope with its soft bounda ries (Kuma
2010)' allowing occupancy environmenta l control; constitute design stra teg ies where the Integration of micro-loca l
ecosystems may be identifiable 3 The intermediate space is refer red simultaneous ly as a inherent condition of
tradi tional Japanese arch itecture (Kuma 2010), and ISbeing prog ressive ly reclaimed as an essen tial environmen tal
control element to sustainab le bu ilding design (Matsunawa 2010) Howeve r, the reference to a singular Japanese
arch itectural tradition ISan abstraction, as it encompasses seve ral different styles and typo logies (lsozaki 2006;
Nute 1995) Even the adoption of vernacular models to the formulat ion of japan ness In the beg inning of the 20 th
century (lsozaki 2006)' collides with the variables present In the multitude of rural minka sty les
Therefore, it can be asked which ma terials, mo tives, textures and patterns const itute the skin and structure of
Japa nese vernacu lar arch Itectu re? What bou nda ry patte rns are observed in minka typolog les? 'Ja pa nese dwelli ngs
are often sa id to be made of wood and pape r; but () It is mo re accu rate to say that minka are made of wood ,
grass, and earth ." (Kawashima 1986 18)' in different lo ca l arrangements. The existence of local patterns among
regiona l diversity in Japanese vernacu lar architecture was Identified and reg iste red by Wa jiro Kon (1888-1973)1'
In "Nihon no Mlnka" (1927). Japanese rural house typo logi es were Interpreted "() as material expressions of
particular lifestyles, concluding that it was the natural environment which largely defined those patterns of living."
(Nute 1995 114)
The present resea rch aims to examine the role of Intermediate spaces and the usage of different porosity
material patterns In bui lding's envelope boun daries , in minka arch itecture, identifying local typo logies and its
respons iveness to micro-local conditions. It is intended to visualize how these patterns change in space and to
clarify how its soft boundaries are subject to local adaptation , and ecosystem integration.
Design elements and envelope boundaries in vernacular architecture of Japan
Passive deSign solu tions, found in vernacu lar archite cture, show eV idence of th e existence of 3 worldwi de
typo logies of building systems 1. a cold climate closed system; 2. a hot climate closed system; and 3. a hot and
humid cli mate open system (Kodama 2005) Closed system types are characterized by high thermal inertia and
low degree of openings, and open system types by a high degree of openings and low thermal inertia materials.
However the application of these archetypal models in lo cal archite ctu re is not rig id, and several regional
va riations and hybridizations occur.
In ve rnacular architectu re of Ko rea it IS possib le to idenllfy the resource to both closed and open systems
synthesized in th e same housing typology (Koda ma 2005 125) Also In Japan, whe re climatic cond itions sha re
sim ilarities wi th Korea 5, and whe re cu ltural influences from mainland Asia are regis tered 6, (Nute 2004 26), closed
and open systems coexist, in diverse gradations in vernacular and erudite typolog ies, resulting in the abundance
of transition elements, that characterize Japanese architectu re soft boundaries. Transition spaces and boundary
layering are not as well exclusive of Asian reg ion , since other examples are observed, as in Mediterranean
vernacular arch itecture' verandas, courtyards, mashrabyas, and movable shades.
In Japanese architecture, the transitional boundaries that form the bu ildings enc losure are synthesized as
intermed iate spaces and screen ings (Kuma 2010) Frequent transi tion spaces that mediate from interior to
exte rior space, are constituted by the genkan (entrance) and engawa (covered hallway space) Among ent ran ce
typo logies, the doma (o r earth room), with an earthen floo r pavement, is common in ve rnacular architecture,
ei ther serving as genkan, or as well coo king and wo rking areas. The engawa transit ional space ISloca ted at
lower or simi lar floor level as the Interior areas, paved by different materials as pebbles or wood boa rd flooring.
It is enclosed by different mutable gradations: wide open , translucent panels and/or opaque shutte rs; acting as
in termed iate thermal insu lation and ven tilation space. The multiple controllable screening deVices add to the
building's envelope severa l laye rs of different materials and porosity, acco rding to climatic season and weather.
11 8 I 119
 Sp read ove r the is lands of Japanese te rri tory, and settled in different local cond itions, 9 typologies
of minka houses (next page Fig 3), depicted in (Kawash ima 1986) minka survey monography, were
--, ----' ana lyzed , in orde r to determine its usage of Intermediate spaces and different po rosity material
1. Ama-do 2. Sudare and Yoshizu 3. Sh oj i 4. Goshi 5. Yu ki amaya pa tterns. The envelope layers and ma terials iden tified in the su rveyed minka typolog ies, were
(wood shutte rs) (ba mbooand marsh reed shades) (paper and wood sliding doors) (wood latt ice) (t hatch protection) organized as the following Intermediate spaces, Movable wall elements and screenings (Ama-
do, Sudare and Yoshizu, Shoji, Goshi, Yuki amayal. Fixed wall elements (Wood cladding, Bamboo
cladding , Plaster and wood structu re, Boa rd wood walls, Tha tch walls), Roof materials (Thatch roof,
Shingle roof, Tile roof, Copper pla te roof), Flooring materials (Ea rth room, Wood flooring, Tatami
fiooring, Bamboo flooring), and Foundation structures (Grounds ill foundation , Ra ised floor, Leve li ng
stone base, Stone retain ing wall) (Fig 2).

Interpretation of material patterns (and ecosystem integration)

6. Wood cladding 7. Bamboo claddi ng B. Plaster and wood st ructure 10. Thatch The Integ ration of loca l ecosystems with inarchitectural design may be described as implementation
9. Board wood walls
(over ea rth walls) (over ea rth walls) (over ea rth walls) walls
of syne rgies towa rds lan dscape assistance in the rmal comfort processes, water cyc lemanagement,

~
~ - :.t.........t...' waste trea tment. environmenta l amenity, loca l food production, or enhancement of cultu ral
- -j~"-
I -. .~ - functions and biodiversity (Grosskopf, Kibert 2006). The adaptation of hu ma nized lan dscape and
" ~' I • ~,~ natural environment into a cooperat ion symbiosIs within a natural or humanized ecosystem is
refe rred in Japan as satoyama, atradit ional socio-eco logica l landscape, associated with ve rnacular
architecture systems.

In satoyama, the performed socral and productive ac tivities?provide support for diverse ecologi ca l
funct ions, such as biodiversity habitats, water cyc le and soil forma tion. In these socio-ecolog lcal
structu res, advantage use of provis ioning , regu lating, supporting and cultural ecosystem services
11. Thatch roof 12. Sh ingle roof 13. Ti leroof 14. Ti leroof 15. Copper plate roof is taken without comp romising ecologica l functions ba lance. It can be assumed that ve rnacular
arch itectural systems, integ rated in satoyama landsca pes, also share degrees of ecosystem
integration. For interpretation of envelope layers and material patte rns identified in minka
typo log ies, It was attempted to estab lish patterns of local adaptation, based on regional ecologic B
and climatic featu res (Fig 3)

With in vernacular minka, loca l diversi ty regard ing different po rosity ma teria l pa tterns in build ing's
enve lope boundaries elemen ts may be identified. These pa tterns often reflect the structure of
available resou rces, ma teria ls and textures, both natural and of resu lting man made crafts skills
and tec hn iques, exp ressing the resu lts of ma teria l stereotomy, as well as indicating abou t local
16. Earthroom
17. Wood flooring 18. Tatam i flooring 19. Bamboo flooring 20. Peb bles
(natural and cu ltural) integration. Envelope layers and material pa tterns of minka typologies were
(doma, niwa, genkan)
classified acco rding to essen tia l environmental exchanges and contact surfaces, as la tera l, top
and base envelope elements, providing contact With diverse elements such as soil-ground , light,
air-wind, and prec ipitation. In some cases, It was noted the existence of local sub-va riants of the
same typology, or similar sub-typologies were identified indiff erent areas. The performed ana lysis
results are expressed in Table 1.

22. Ra ised floor 25. Intermediate space J rom lefUig 2

21. Groundsill foundations (on wood and stone po les)
23. Leve lingStone Base 24. Stone Reta ining wa ll
(ve randa, engawa) Envelo pe ele ments and material patterns in minka typologies

120 I 121
 Climate ------
----Mirika-fypoCo-gies --- -------- Ecosystem Intermediate ---------------
----- ------------- Movable Fixed --------- -----
------- Shape --------
Material ---------------------
Flooring Foundation
--------- -------------
ill g

- - ~ ~==
~
.s ~!
~~,
~ ,~ CD i ~§ =ru

ii"" 111 1~~jlij1i~li~! ~ ii

= = Mlnka Typologies.

m-oj
G G

m ii':"m'n" iii~;~ :: m,_ -;n::;i,:::: - ;n ~ n; mm nnnmn; n;- ;m mmmmn;n~f:;;::m;_ -; n; m~ n; n;m n

]!JJ11iJ 1. Gassho-Zukuri
2. Honmune-Zukuri
3. Yamatomune-Zukurl
4. Kirihafu-Zukuri
5. Single ridge house
---6flionriiune:zukuri -- -------- ----------- ------------- --------------- ------- -------- - ----- -------- --------------------- --------- ------------- 6. Longhouse
I, II G Kanto- I . side/rear 0 • • • • 0 • doma 0
7. Bunto-Zukuri
chobu varanda.
~ front B. Kudo-Zukurl
~ porch 9. Chumon-Zukuri
-oYyama-tomune-zukuri- - I~---- -- ~;s~;;~ ---- -:-- ;~;~r-~~l-- ~---~--~--~---- ---- - --~-------- ~---- ----- - --~-----:-- ~~r~------~- -~--:---- -~--~-- ~-----
Japan rooms, area 100km

~
and Inner
courtyard
--- -kirihiifu--zukuii--- -- ------ ------ ----- ------ ------- ---- ------ ----- ------ ------ ---- ----- ------- ------ ------ ------ ---- ------- -- --- ------ ----
-0-4~ JopJig2
I, G Kanto- I . balcony • • • • • • D . work ••• ••• Locationandidentifica tionof the minka typologies
II, H chobu to south area and

~
IV on 2 storage
floors _oppositepage from left_Table1
Ana lysisof envelopelayersand material patterns of minka typologies

Discuss'io~ and Conclusions

area In Japanese vernacu lar dwellings, the existence of material and local patterns and the resou rce of Intermediate spaces
arise as impo rtant fea tures. Typology shapes presen t a huge diversity, reflec ting different programs and site adaptation,
06. longhouseb III, Western • front • • • • • •
small 0
• • • • • confirming the statemen t tha t "as physical expressions of local materia ls, clima teand lifesty les, rural minka in particular
IV Japan veranda work
area we re powe rfu l sources of cultu ral and natural region al id entity " (Nute 2004 25) Functional program and life-styles are

----O
06.longhousec Il l,
IV
Kanto-
chobu
• front
veranda work
area
·
small 0
··
-f -b-u-nio-iuku-ria --- -------- ----------- ------------------------ ----- ---------------- ----- -------------------- --------- --------- -------------
more refl ected on interior typology, structural shape and circula tion than envelope eleme nts, material patte rns and
intermediate spaces, which act as immediate inte rface with site specificities, and ecosystem integration, It is observed
VI [out c . open 0 • separate • 0 local diversity in envelope elements and intermediate spaces tha t reveal site spec ificities, although severa l mate rial
of veranda, cooking patte rns may be widespread into large regions. Thatch roofs are common on most of the regions, while tile roofs tend to
clusters] to rooms, area
~ SW be observed on ly in southern areas. Similarly, division between in land and coasta l areas might be attempted, as well as

07. bunto-zukurl b VI,

V
Western
Japan · between
buildings,
..·. 0
· separate
cooking
0
··
mountainous and flat areas.
Intermediate or transition spaces are pa rticu larly flex ible, taking spec ific different fo rms and functions, in each typology,
to SW area
from covered alleyways, circulating -perimetra l enga was or po rches, and verandas, The location, although typically
07. bunto-zukuri c VI Kanto-
chobu
• front
veranda
• • • • • • 0
• large
work
• • • • •
situated to the front of the house complex, presents severa l va riants. On the other hand, although its dimenSion and
area
function may va ry, the presence of an earth entrance room is a feature present In all typologies.
07.bunto-zukurid VI Kanto-
chobu ·
front,and
sid e
veranda
-------- ----------- -----------------------------
-----0-8Tu-do- zu ku ~ ----
0 large
work
area
·
---------------- ----- ----------------------------- --------- -------------
Some mate rial patterns arecommon to almost all thetypologies (as wood and thatch) and others are particula rly specific
VI Western • open 0 0 • large • • 0 to some typologies (bamboo cladding and floo ring, and copper roof) , Board wood walls are most commonly observed
Japan veranda work in mountain areas, where earth walls are more difficultly observed, Although some of these local variants are directly
torooms area
esp. SW connected with local availability of mate ria ls, it not only influences the relation to ecosystem interaction (ext raction and
--- 09:chumon-zukuri--- -------- ----------- ----------------------------- ---------------- ----- ----------------------------- --------- ------------- maintenance of material reserves) but also the adaptation to indoor comfort requ iremen ts, as thatch presents insulation
II, Tohoku- I 0 porch, ••• 0 • • 0 • • • • large • 0 •
III, hokushln ante- work prope rties and earth walls, humidity abso rption.
IV chamber area
[chumon] Some relations tha t might be establish ed betwe en ecosystem cooperation and enve lope mate rial patterns and elem ents
in vernacula r arch itecture of Japan are directly related wi th the fundamental use of locally sourced natural materials,

122 [1 23
 Hokkaido Ho kkai do
Tohoku To hoku
-chubu
JoP leftJig 3a and Fig3b
Sa toyama ecosystem clustersand Clima te Regions I and II
(according to tem pe raturevariation, received so lar rad iation
and resulti ng heating requiremen t, in winter) (Sakam oto: 2005)
..
wh ich reinforcehuman stewa rds+i'P towards surrounding ecosystems and the va lua ti on of its services. On theother hand,
the great employment of natural sourced materials signifies inc rea sed re cyclab ility and biodegradab le disposability at
theend of lifecycle, whileduring occu pancy stage, it may also cons titutebiod iversity refugiu mand hab itat niches.
Thatch roofs and walls allow the growth of grass, to Increased Insulation inwinter, which is periodica lly cu t, in summer.
Living materials ca n also contribu te to balance hygro thermal conditions, as they absorb air hu midity, contributing to
indoor comfo rt, and air qua lity, as envelop ema terials laye rs tend topresen t porosity characteristics. In a similar manner,
the earth roomallows soil pe rme ability over an extended su rface, contribu tin g to wa ter cycling.
It was also ob se rved that broade r cli matic regi ons 9 are not sufficient per se to form loca l typo logy patterns, it isnecessary
toobse rve othe r site and micro-site specifici ties. Wh ile atypology isessentially forme dby program, life-style and cu lture,
availab lelocal materials, technology processes, and neighboring reg ional influences, it also encompasses adaptation to
loca l ecosys tems attending to specific micro-loca l fea tures, as topography, hydrology, loca l biodive rsity and landscape
arrangements.
Given fe w su rviving examples of m/nka houses, great pa rt of them consistin g of reproduc tions and relocations, not
inhabited and removed fromtrad itional life stylecycles, attri bu tes an additiona l difficulty to presently assess tempora ry
seasonal occupancy fea ture s, su ch as movable elements as sudare, or exterior fences of diverse kinds, for cli matic
protection towards wind, snow, an d sea airstreams. However, regarding the presence of wall screen in g and layered
elements, va ria tions were observed In va riety and amount of covered su rface, spec ially refe rring togosh/and sho;f1°
In conclu sion, the stu dy of enve lope layers and ma terial patterns obse rved in vernacular arch itectu re may point out
future exp lorative and creative directions, in architectural design. Architecture and planning act as direct drivers!! on
the equ ilibrium of ecosystems, influ encing the vital se rvices provided by these. Its design decisions can potentially
influe nce negative or positive effects. Ecosys tem integ ration deSign resu lts, based on a given ra nge of site specificity,
as in vernacular archit ectu re, are not deterministi c but allow degrees of innovative freedom tha t may crea te a tru ly
res pons ive and co llaborative architectu rewith ti me and place.
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Footnotes
I. Presently exceeded In wha t conce rns na tural resou rces, dep letion of biodiversity and farming land, and concent rationsof pollu tion and waste.
(WWF(2008) Livi ng Planet Report 2008. Wo rldWi ldlife Fund (WWF) Avai lable at www httpl/assets.panda.o rg /down loadslliving. planeUeporti
2. The assessment of vernacular arch itecture performance tends however to be ana lyzed ma inly through ene rgy aspe cts (thermal com fort. energy
consumption, embodied energy, etc) and the ba lance with micro-local and glo ba l environments isassessed predominantly from impacts, and ra rely
from benefits towa rds the local or global ecosystem.
3. Moreover, both concepts of fudo (J!t±) (the read ing of th esite); and th econcept of boundary in termedia tespa ces, kyo kai (~W). grow from a
tra dition to un derstand na ture and arc hitecture at a si te-specific local leve l.
4. Who condu cted in the 1917 the Habu koka i minka resea rch .
5. Co ldand dry win ters an dhot and hum id summers.
6. Pa rticularly during theYayoi period
7. Which take pla cewithin laye rs of natu ral enVironment , fores try and cultivated area s, and bui lt systems (Iton aga: 2005: p.68)
8. For eco logica l characterization, wereused th esatoyama ecologi ca l clusters, represen ting study areas with geographi ca l, climatic, eco log ica l,
social, economi c, and politica l affinities, acco rding toJapa n Sa toyama Satoumi Assessment USSA: 2010)
9. Generically used inene rgy conse rvation po licies, and sustainable building assessmen t.
10. The presence of these elemen ts is poss ibly less related with mi cro-loca l spec ificity and morewith the degree of complexity of the typology
samp les, as it appea rs larger in more elaborated bui ld ing s, and less significant in less wea lthy examp les
II. Upon potent ial impacts as land use change, micro-cl imate change, invas ivespecies, pollu ti on, over-exploitation or unde r-useof loca l resou rces.
12. Climate Regions I (regiona l division for housing standard s (according to temperatu revariation, received solar rad iat ion, and resu lting heating
requ iremen t. in win ter), and Climate Region II (reg iona l division fo r non -residential buildings acco rding to hea ting supp ly requ iremen ts, in Winter, an d
cooling requ iremen ts, insummer) (Sakamoto: 2005)
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Acknowledgements
Opening Ph oto by Artur Miguel San tos. Fi g 1,2,3 and Tab le I areDra wings and Pho tos by Autho r.
Catarina Vitorino
Ca tarina Vito rino is an arch itect and member of Ke ngo Kuma Labo ratory, the University of To kyo, fund ed by MEXTMon bu ka gakush o Programme, with
the Resea rch To pi c "Eco logical boundaries: susta inable bu ilding design and the integration of micro-local ecosystems" She has aDiplo ma Deg ree in
Arc h. (2004), and aPost-G raduation in Biocli ma tic Arch itecture (2009) from FA-UTL(Lisb on ) Architect chartere d by the Order of Portug uese Arch itects,
she has workedin research, in archi tecture and urban planni ng, and is member of IISBE(Interna tion al Initi ative fo r aSustainab le Bu ilt Envi ronmentl .
124 I 125